"Officials look to cure Laramie's airport woes"

Sunday, August 03, 2003

Officials look to cure Laramie's airport woes
By W. DALE NELSON
The Casper (WY) Star-Tribune


LARAMIE -- The cost of commuter flights from Laramie to Denver to catch an
airliner forces many travelers to drive or take a bus instead, state and
airport officials were told here.

In the last of 10 meetings held around the state, Wyoming Business Council
and Department of Transportation representatives heard views Friday in
preparation for implementation of the Air Services Financial Aid Act passed
by the state Legislature.

"If you take two people or more to DIA (Denver International Airport), the
cost is not even close" to the price of a ticket on Great Lakes Aviation,
Tim Stamp, president of the Laramie Economic Development Commission, told
the group.

No one could be reached at Great Lakes' airport office Friday or Saturday to
quote ticket prices.

According to a report at a town meeting in Cheyenne in November 2000, the
average round trip commuter rate in Wyoming then was $206 and rising.

George Krell, a member of the Laramie Regional Airport Board, said that when
he and his wife were planning a trip they found that "it cost as much to fly
from here to Denver as it would from Denver to London."

Don Black, publisher of the Laramie Daily Boomerang, told the WBC
representatives that instead of paying Great Lakes' rates "lots of people go
from here and stay in a motel and leave their cars parked there."

Sonia Murray, a senior consultant with SH&E, a firm hired by the Business
Council, said Laramie is one of three airports in the state, along with
Riverton and Rock Springs, that board fewer than 10,000 passengers a year.
This means they stand to lose grants of $1 million from the Federal Aviation
Administration for airport improvements and maintenance.

Stamp argued that boardings would increase if the airline would cut fares.
"Even if they only get fifty bucks a seat, it's better than no bucks a
seat," he said.

Norman "Skip" Roberts, a retired member of the airport board, asked why,
since Laramie receives a $300,000-a-year Essential Air Service subsidy for
flying from Laramie three times a day, the flights cost as much as
non-subsidized flights from Cheyenne.

Murray responded by saying airlines "are going to set fares as high as the
market will bear."

Patrick G. Pitet, transportation director for the Business Council, said the
law passed by Legislature "recognizes the need for reasonable fares,
reliable service and increased frequency in scheduling."

The lawmakers appropriated $3 million to assist local airports in achieving
the act's objectives.

Shelly Reams, aeronautics administrator for the Department of
Transportation, said that "$3 million is a lot of money, but it is not very
much money at all in the scheme of the airlines world."

Murray said that in seeking to attract additional carriers, the consultants
"will target specific airlines that make a lot of sense here." She said she
has had "confidential talks" with the airlines and they are "extremely
interested" in serving Wyoming.

Airport board member E.G. Meyer told the audience, "It is easy to complain,
but this is a very, very difficult area to serve" and it is important to
support local air service.

Jay Fromkin, University of Wyoming public relations director, said the
university has students from all 50 states and about 60 countries and "we
know that transportation to Laramie is a barrier to many people." He said
air transport is also important in getting athletes to out-of-town games.

"The need for low cost, or at least moderate cost, transportation out of
Laramie is paramount," Fromkin said.

The meeting was one of 10 held during a period of four days. Others were in
Cody, Sheridan, Worland, Gillette, Casper, Riverton, Jackson, Rock Springs
and Cheyenne.

Pitet said the officials would present their recommendations to lawmakers by
Sept. 30.

"This project is giving Wyoming an opportunity," Murray said.

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